The Evil God Wings were fully spread. Faint gray patterns were scattered across the pitch-black feathers, radiating an aura of evil and ferocity.
The Eight Spider Lances, though weakened, were desperately defending their only territory with all their remaining strength, like a young beast driven to the brink of despair.
Behind him, the eight sharp spider lances swung violently, sometimes piercing tree trunks and sometimes slicing through the air with sharp whistling sounds.
Lin Yang's expression darkened. He had never expected external spirit bones to cause such a situation.
The Eight Spider Lances were no longer needed.
While he was still speaking, something suddenly erupted behind Lin Yang, trying to tear the Eight Spider Lances away.
However, his action seemed to have completely driven the Eight Spider Lances into "despair."
The eight spider lances suddenly shrank inward. Their deep purple bone structure rapidly took root into his flesh and bones.
"Shhh!"
Lin Yang sucked in a breath. Had they fused of their own volition?
Wouldn't this only make the situation worse?
But the fusion had already begun. Separation was no longer an option.
The Evil God Wings also seemed "angry." Evil power surged forth, trying to completely pull the Eight Spider Lances out of Lin Yang's body.
At that moment, Lin Yang had a flash of inspiration. He willingly severed a portion of his own flesh, bones, and the Eight Spider Lances from his body.
Fourth Spirit Skill, Spirit Ring: Spirit Split!
The third spirit ring detached and merged into flesh and blood.
The Bone Clone separated from his back, carrying the Eight Spider Lances with it.
After the Eight Spider Lances left, the Evil God Wings finally calmed down and obediently retracted into his body.
"It seems having too many external spirit bones isn't a good thing," Lin Yang muttered.
He looked at the Bone Clone and asked, "How do you feel?"
The Bone Clone's sharp voice rang out. "The Eight Spider Lances have fully fused."
Lin Yang examined the Bone Clone's back.
Originally, its body had been entirely composed of white jade-like bones. Now, eight deep purple lines had appeared on its back.
With a single thought, the Bone Clone fully deployed the eight spider lances from its back.
After performing a few simple movements, the Eight Spider Lances moved nimbly and freely, without the slightest delay, as if they were his own limbs.
What would happen if he recalled his clone?
Would the Eight Spider Lances return to him as well?
After pondering for a while, Lin Yang's Bone Clone merged back with him.
To his surprise, he discovered an extra layer of armor on his back.
The armor was tightly fused with his flesh and blood, yet it caused him no discomfort. When he focused his mind, the Eight Spider Lances suddenly shot out.
Lin Yang successfully executed a series of high-difficulty techniques using the Eight Spider Lances.
This time, the Evil God Wings showed no further abnormalities.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Yang split off the Bone Clone again and handed it Tang Hao's torso bone for refinement.
Soon, deep golden patterns appeared along the Bone Clone's spine.
Lin Yang passed the refined right arm bone and left leg bone to the Bone Clone as well.
This time, no detailed explanation was needed. The Bone Clone accepted the spirit bones, refined them, and then merged back with the main body.
Now, Lin Yang's torso was covered in deep golden bone armor, and so were his right arm and left leg.
"No… that's not right!"
Lin Yang frowned. He poured soul power into the Eight Spider Lances, using them as a bridge to communicate and resonate with the bone armor.
It was as if the Eight Spider Lances had melted. Heat erupted from his back and directly transferred into the bone armor on his torso, right arm, and left leg.
Whoosh!
The bone armor pieces cut from three different areas began to connect, vaguely fusing into the prototype of a full set of armor.
This state only lasted a few breaths before the armor instantly vanished, returning to its original bone armor form.
Lin Yang conducted several more experiments and finally reached a conclusion.
The Bone Clone could refine spirit bones, and those spirit bones became the clone's own.
The close yet relatively independent relationship between him and his clone allowed him to maintain control.
It was like wearing armor.
The most important point was that the bone armor did not occupy the spirit bone slots of his original body.
In other words, if he had the means, he could easily gather two full sets of spirit bones for himself.
Use one set first, then stack another on top.
This was defying the heavens!
Lin Yang smiled faintly. It seemed he would need to find a way to gather six spirit bones for his Bone Clone.
He already possessed a complete set of spirit bones, but he did not regret giving them to Xiao Wu and the others.
To gain something, one must give something up!
Looking at the bone armor equipped on his body, Lin Yang gave a bitter smile. It seemed his Bone Clone, like his flesh-and-blood clone, would have to remain outside permanently as well.
Lin Yang lightly waved his hand. A gust of wind scattered the withered corpse of the Man-Faced Demon Spider into dust, which disappeared into the air.
Then, Lin Yang and his Bone Clone flew one after another toward the location where Dugu Yan was.
When he returned, Dugu Yan had just finished absorbing her spirit ring.
At her feet, five spirit rings — two yellow, one purple, two black — slowly pulsed.
A faint emerald-green mist swirled around her. The draconic pressure she emitted was even more intense than before.
Ordinary thousand-year soul beasts were no match for Dugu Yan.
"Excellent!"
Dugu Bo stood to the side with his hands clasped behind his back, nodding in satisfaction.
Lin Yang asked curiously, "What are your spirit skills?"
Dugu Yan smiled mysteriously. The fifth spirit ring at her feet flickered.
In an instant, fine diamond-shaped emerald-green dragon scales appeared on her skin, from her palms all the way up to her neck.
Her hands resembled dragon claws, with sharp, dark-green nails that contained terrifying poison.
Behind her, a long dragon tail swayed faintly.
"This is my fifth spirit skill — Poison Dragon Transformation. In this state, all attributes increase by 100%, and the power of poison triples."
Lin Yang's eyes lit up slightly. Dugu Yan was no longer a fragile existence. She had become a balanced character capable of both close combat and ranged attacks.
After obtaining the spirit ring, the Blue-Eyed Demon Poison Dragon was not wasted. It was dismantled and taken away.
The four of them left the Star Dou Great Forest and returned to Suotuo City.
The next day, after a short rest, Dugu Bo waved his hand.
"Let's go. It's time to head back!"
Lin Yang purchased two new carriages. One was for Dugu Bo and Elder Ye, while the other was for Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan.
Unfortunately, the ones driving these two carriages were Lin Yang and his Bone Clone.
The carriages only traveled for two days. Once Xiao Wu had fully recovered, the group abandoned the carriages and hurried back to Heaven Dou City.
After returning to the city, the group dispersed to rest after several days of travel and intense activity.
"We're finally back!"
When Xiao Wu pushed open the gates of the Butterfly House, she cheered, drawing the gazes of many people from the courtyard.
"Teacher, Sister Xiao Wu, welcome back!"
Catherine appeared from among a group of patients, wearing a relieved smile.
Catherine was no longer the frail girl she once was. She had become an elegant eighteen-year-old young woman.
The childishness between her brows had disappeared, replaced by calmness and composure. An aura of reassurance emanated from her every movement.
It was precisely because Catherine was the manager of the Butterfly House that Lin Yang could confidently act recklessly outside.
"Nothing happened recently, right?" Lin Yang asked casually.
Catherine said quietly, "Everything has been going smoothly. However, an invitation arrived from His Highness the Crown Prince. He hopes you will visit the palace when you have time."
Lin Yang was surprised, then slowly nodded.
"I see!"
...